We are all in this together! Husky Strong!

Posted: Mar/27/2020 2:19 PM

Dear Husky Student,

Whew! What rapid change there has been in our ELAC community and in the world. We know that this crisis has produced stress and quick adaptations – but these challenges won’t linger forever. Thank you for your flexibility and your grit! We appreciate how calmly and resiliently you have responded to these changes brought about by COVID-19. Due to COVID-19's spread and the health authorities' increasingly sweeping responses world-wide, we are constantly evaluating and adjusting the College’s own response. It is difficult not seeing our wonderful Huskies, but we wanted to safeguard your health and slow the virus' spread.

Just a short while ago, it would have been difficult to imagine we would not be together in class or at campus activities again this semester. I am certain that, like me, each of you draws a great deal of energy and joy from the close presence of friends, classmates, and roommates. We can only find ways to stand strong together, stay connected and look forward to the day when we can reassemble in person. We shall still stay connected to one another, in spirit and through technology, as we carry on with remote learning and remote support services. Again, stay safe and healthy. ELAC will be back in touch again soon. All of you are in our thoughts. Below is information to guide you:

INSTRUCTION

As you know, we needed to stop face-to-face instruction and quickly move to online instruction until further notice. We wanted to keep you, your families, as well as our faculty and staff safe. The modified Spring Break will end this Sunday, March 29th. Instruction will begin remotely on Monday, March 30 and will be online until further notice. March 31st is a holiday – Cesar Chavez’ Birthday. We thank all the faculty who weren’t teaching online before as they quickly moved to get trained on Canvas and Zoom and organized their course to an online format. Thank you to staff and administrators for their support in organizing and conducting trainings for faculty. Keep in mind that:

Instructors should not ask for you to complete any assignments during the two weeks from March 18th – March 29th, and have been working hard to adjust their course schedules and work with you.

You should look for communication from your professor to determine how the course will operate remotely. The course may be online live during the class meeting time. This is referred to as synchronous and could occur through Zoom, a feature that is already in Canvas. Other classes may use discussion boards, posted materials and other options referred to as asynchronous. Your professors are working extremely hard to be flexible and find the best way to support your learning.

If you need assistance with Canvas, contact Distance Education Office. We also have in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section, resources/links on using Canvas and eTextbooks.

Canvas

Are you READY to go ONLINE? Have you viewed the tutorials? Have you logged into the student information system to access Canvas? Please take a moment to review the ELAC Distance Education. (click on to Open Hyperlink) website where you will find information and links to help you continue your coursework online using Canvas. Please contact the Canvas help line at (844)695-2223

To support the sudden move to online learning, many major publishers are making eTextbooks freely available through May 25, 2020. These eTextbooks are available through an application - VitalSource. They include books used in GE courses like Math 125, Math 227, Math 261, Health 11, Anatomy 1, Biology 3, and more. Students can login to the VitalSource Bookshelf app using their school email address and can add up to 7 eTextbooks to their account from participating publishers at no cost. Once you have downloaded the app and created an account, you can also access the eTextbooks resources online through a browser at https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/explore. For more information about how to get started with VitalSource visit their Help or FAQ page. You can also view a step-by-step guide about accessing Vital Source books online put together by Aleah Kropholler of Cabrillo College.

STUDENT SERVICES & ACADEMIC SUPPORT LABS

We also had to move our student services operations, which took much more time, as we wanted to ensure that we don’t miss a beat in serving you remotely, especially the departments that have a lot of paperwork. Yes, even Financial Aid and Admissions are ready to go! Here is information to keep you connected:

Counseling, Financial Aid & Admissions
Services will be available remotely through SIS and the student portal. Services such as Financial Aid will be provided using both the SIS and Campus Logic for verifications. Counseling services will be available online using the Online Counseling and Live Chat tile on the student portal. Check your student email for detailed information on online counseling and live chat.

ELAC Support Emails
ELAC has set up additional emails to help inform students during this crisis. If you have specific questions please send an email to the appropriate email address below and a staff member will get back to you.

Scams
Phishing emails have spiked by over 600% since the end of February as cyber-criminals look to capitalize on the fear and uncertainty generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common subject line to get your attention and act to click - relates to password expiration data breaches. According to the top 10 global phishing email subject lines, examining email subject lines from simulated phishing tests, the most clicked was ‘Official Data Breach Notification’ followed by common tactics such as fake delivery notes and workplace issues, including password expiry advisories, account updates and information claiming to be from HR or IT.

The latest cell phone scam/fraud that keeps popping up is that you are eligible to get a refund or iPhone. If something sounds too good to be true, most times it isn’t. So, please proceed with caution and read what latest scams noted in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) https://www.fcc.gov/covid-scams

Student Worker Assignments

Federal Work Study assignment will continue as agreed with no interruption in pay, unless your assignment ended.

All other student workers, your departmental supervisors or Deans will stay in contact with you to determine if your assignment can go remote. At this time, we are assessing each unit and plans are being made for your remote work assignment.

Student Engagement and Clubs
We are committed to making sure our students are able to reach out to each other and continue to be socially engaged. Staff will be available online to LiveChat with students and can be reached by visiting the ELAC webpage or clicking on this link (http://elac.edu/Student-Services/Student-Resources/Associated-Student-Union) Your Associated Student Union will soon be connecting with you using Zoom. If you have any ideas for virtual activities please send them to your ASU and Student Activities email Studentact@elac.edu

Student Elections
Elections for next year’s student council will be held electronically. Please contact the Student Activities office (Studentact@elac.edu) for more information or if you are interested in running for office.

Technology and Laptops
We are trying to help our students by purchasing Chromebook, but there is a limited quantity. So, this is a first applied, first served basis. Right now, there is an opportunity to request a Chromebook to be loaned to you. This can be accessed through the SIS student portal or mycollegelaccd.edu

Click on the Financial Aid and Scholarship tile and the select scholarships. This will take you to NextGen application where you can apply for technology support. Laptops will be loaned out to students for the remaining part of the semester. Students will be notified via their LACCD email in the next couple of days with details on when, where and how-to pick up a laptop on campus.

Low-Cost and Free Internet Access

Several companies throughout California are offering free or low-cost internet access to students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AT&T

AT&T is providing free access to its Wi-Fi across the country.

California Connects

California Community Colleges students are eligible for this service powered by Sprint, which offers nationwide 4G LTE connectivity and allows users to connect up to 10 WiFi enabled devices for up to 10 hours on a single charge for only $19.99 a month.

Charter

Charter is offering access for 60 days to households college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Additionally, all WiFi hotspots are now free of charge.

Comcast

Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, Comcast is offering two months of free to Internet service through the Internet Essentials program. This offer is available to new and existing customers. Additionally, Xfinity WiFi hotspots are now available free of charge to the public.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is providing unlimited data to all current customers who have plans with data for the next 60 days. It will also provide additional data to mobile hotspot users.

Graduation
At this point, graduation has NOT been cancelled. The President wants to hold off as long as possible, as this is one of our most exciting milestones. We are moving ahead with the planning but will send an update as we are advised. Graduation Petitions have been extended until April 17th. See your counselor or Admissions Department for graduation petition.

Student Health Services
While ELAC campus and the Student Health Center is closed due to the pandemic, our health care provider, Via Care Community Health Center is open and here to serve you at any one of their sites. If you are feeling sick, have a fever, or symptomatic, or are concerned that you or a family member may have Coronavirus, or that you may have come in contact with someone that has been exposed to the virus, please do not hesitate to contact Via Care at 323.268.9191. Their medical staff will give you further instructions. If needed, their doctors are working and ready to help you with a telephonic or telehealth medical visit. There is absolutely no charge to ELAC students during this pandemic. We are open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm daily and also have a doctor on call and available to answer your questions or concerns after hours at the following number, 323.268.9191.

Mental health services are also available! If you would like to speak to a mental health therapist, please call 323-268-9191 and Via Care staff will connect you to a “live” therapist during the above hours. Should you like to make an appointment to speak with a therapist, you can also do so by calling 323.268.9191.

CalFresh (formerly food stamps): known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, provides monthly food benefits to individuals and families with low-income and provides economic benefits to communities. The amount of benefits a household receives is dependent on household size countable income, and monthly expenses, such as housing and utilities. The program issues monthly benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Food may be purchased at any grocery store or farmers market that accepts EBT cards. https://www.getcalfresh.org/

LA Food Bank Pantry Locator: Pantry distribution dates and times are subject to change. Please call the pantry to verify that this information is current. Most pantries serve according to geographical service area. Food pantry clients should bring photo identification with them to the pantry. The identification should show client’s current residential address. However, all clients will be served the first time regardless of completion of application and service area. https://www.lafoodbank.org/find-food/pantry-locator/

Further UpdatesVirtual Townhall - The College and Student Services will be holding a virtual townhall for students to provide you with an update as well as answer some of the questions that you have. More information to be sent out.

We will continue to provide updates to you with more information as it becomes available. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.